When Jaxon Willits scored on a sacrifice fly by Ray Velazquez in the fourth inning to extend the Hyannis Harbor Hawks lead to 8-1 over the Orleans Firebirds, the assumption was that the Hawks would coast to a much-needed victory, which would have been only their second of the week.

As the saying goes: when it rains, it pours.

The Harbor Hawks coughed up the seven run lead over the Firebirds in three innings and had to settle for a disappointing 8-8 tie at home Saturday night.

Hawks manager Mitch Karraker lamented the lack of hitting in the late stages of the game and the free bases allowed on defense.

“Too many free bases that ended up scoring there,” said Karraker. “For the most part, we did alright. Just had one inning that really got away from us.”

Things started swimmingly for the now 9-6-3 Harbor Hawks, who took another early lead in the first inning when Andrew Williamson laced a two-run double to the right-center field gap, bringing home Willits and Jake Schaffner.

After Orleans got one run in the third on an infield single by Elijah Ickes, the Hawks took flight in the fourth. Williamson got every bit of Cal Scolari’s 1-1 pitch and drove it 422 feet to right-center field, making it a 4-1 Hyannis lead. They didn’t stop there, as Brody Briggs took a 2-2 pitch from Scolari and hit a three-run homer off the scoreboard, extending the lead to 7-1.

Karraker was quick to point out how Williamson having a big game was key for the team.

“[It] felt like he had been in between pitches a little bit earlier in the year,” said Karraker. “It is good to see him bust loose there, and he was a big part of our offense tonight.”

Carson Jasa made his second start and fifth appearance of the summer for the Hawks. He did a good job of keeping the Orleans offense contained early, allowing one run on two hits and four walks while striking out five Firebirds hitters.

Karraker thought Jasa’s start was important and much-needed for the team.

“I talked to him afterwards and said ‘hey man, if you don’t walk so many guys you would probably go five or six [innings],’” said Karraker. “His stuff was really good, his stuff is always really good. Did not have great command early and then he settled in, and it was tremendous for us.”

Things unraveled for the Hawks after Jasa departed. Eddie Copper was the first man out of the bullpen and allowed five Orleans runs to score in the fifth inning, giving up four hits in the process. Tommy O’Rourke got through the sixth inning unscathed, but gave up a solo home run and RBI double in the seventh.

Just like that, the game was tied 8-8.

The Hawks had an opportunity in the eighth inning to grab the lead when Williamson was intentionally walked with Willits already on base. Karraker then called for a double steal, and Williamson was thrown out convincingly by Orleans catcher Cashel Dugger to end the inning.

In the ninth, Ray Velazquez got on base to start the inning with a single, but was quickly erased when Gabe Camacho grounded into a double play. In the 10th, pinch runner Charlie Bates was on third with two outs, but Matt Miura flew out to end the inning and the game.

A big reason the game stayed tied was the performance of Ryan Speshyock, who has been the closest thing to a closer the Harbor Hawks have. He shut down the Orleans offense in the eighth, ninth, and 10th innings, striking out three hitters.

Karraker, who aggressively used Speshyock for a third inning, decided to use him in the 10th because of a low pitch count and how he got through the first two innings.

“His pitch count was down, he was already in the game, in the flow of it,” said Karraker. “He is throwing the ball really, really well, and he did exactly what we needed him to do.”

Speshyock, who said he loves to get the ball in high leverage spots late in games, was relying on a fastball-changeup one-two punch to shut down the Orleans offense.

“Fastballs coming out good, good command of it,” said Speshyock. “Those tight spots, sometimes you do not want to mess around with potentially free runners and things like that, so [a] lot of fastballs.”

Speshyock got a big assist from Miura in the 10th inning. With two outs, Robbie Lavey dropped a single in front of Miura in left field. With Anthony Potestio breaking for home plate from second base, Miura’s throw to catcher Brody Briggs was perfect, nailing Potestio at home and keeping Orleans off the board.

“They can’t all be easy strikeouts and groundouts and things of that nature,” said Speshyock. “Sometimes you need the big play, and Matt has done that a couple times.”

Miura’s big play unfortunately did not lead to the Hawks winning the game. Instead, they’ll face a 9-8-1 Brewster Whitecaps team Sunday afternoon with a bitter taste in their mouths.

With Brewster having beaten the Harbor Hawks in both games they’ve played so far, the Hawks will be hungry to get a win and try to get back on track. Santiago Garcia will start for the Hawks against Brewster’s Tegan Kuhns.

Michael Najarian can be reached at mikenajarian379@gmail.com and on X @Michael_Naj3